The Last of Us 2

THE LAST OF US 2

Haters are going to hate. Best graphics of all time, even on the old hound that is the PS4.

Naughty Dog doesn't owe anyone a story that's expected. They took a bold direction that mirrors a huge issue happening in America right now, hate, division, and a lack of empathy for the other side. Without experience, divisiveness is easy. Just because the writing goes in a different direction than expected, does not mean it isn't great. Some of the best dialogue in any video game ever can be found here. The writing and acting is incredibly nuanced. There is subtlety and depth that you can't find in other games to this level of professionalism. From gorgeous landscapes, to hyper realistic facial animations, the attention to detail is mind bending. The themes are dark, but there are beautiful glimpses of hope, joy, and perseverance.

Even if for some reason you just can't stomach the story, there is no denying that the gameplay and the graphics are amazing. I have a solid PC, and no game touches these graphics even on the relatively weak ps4 pro. RDR2 comes very close, but Naughty Dog has set the standard in my book. There is a level of photo realism that blew me away. At 30fps I was never bothered. Movement is weighted in realism. If you have a PS5 you’ll be sure to enjoy a smooth 60fps update. These guys are wizards at optimization.

The level  design is top tier. The environments create an immersive experience that is hard to match without VR. Stealth creates tension, and when all hell breaks loose, the chaos of running through fixed yet open areas creates a uniqueness to everyone's play through. The survival element is visceral.

Naughty Dog wins my favorite developer.